Scumbag

OK...here are the requirements for a new motor:

Must be under 6 years old (company opt-out rules). In fact I would want to keep it at least a couple of years, so 4 years is possibly the most
Dont really want to suffer shed loads of depreciation, so probably min 12 months old
Must have more than 2 seats
Not keen on in-your-face looks (also wouldnt go down too well at work), so no EVOs, P1s etc. Would love a Q-car
Plenty of power (currently running 280 bhp Legacy B4...would like more)
Must be able to comfortably run 20,000+ miles per year in it...quality a plus
Prefer no roller-skates...as above want it to be fairly comfortable on a 200mile Friday night run in traffic
Can spend approx 30k (bit more, bit less, whatever)
Not overly worried about running costs (although having a car that more than 3 insurers in the UK would touch would be nice!!)
Quite happy with an estate if well put together

Current thoughts:
M3 (hate the image)
M5 (favourite)
S4 & mods (prefer new 4.2 V8, but a bit new and still pricey)
RS4 (pricey)
Monaro (bit too new to have depreciated much)

OR
2 cars...2 year old motorway mile muncher A4 TDi or similar
and toy (Chimaera 450/500, Caterfield, elise)

Problem with the 2 cars route is that I work away from home a lot, and wouldnt necessarily get enough use of 2nd car to make it worthwhile (I take it for the week, or not at all!!). Also I do enjoy having plenty of poke on tap, day-in, day-out

Am I missing anything...what should I do...comments appreciated

SB

OllyK

Go the Labour way - use public transport or a push bike

Scumbag

I get an extra bonus at work if I walk, bike or car-share for a set number of days per month...problem is I work full-time on customer sites many miles from work, so I'm buggered on that front too

davegtt

Lexus?

Tiggs

"OR
2 cars...2 year old motorway mile muncher A4 TDi or similar"

NEVER get this idea.....buy a car you like to use most of the time. dont sit in a car you dont like becasue you have a TVR at home.

T

ps- TVR wont work anyway!

Scumbag

Exactly my worry
I have had TVRs in the past without any problems whatsoever (but that was when I could walk to work!!)

which one gives me a bit of 'fun'...any decent imported models?


Cheers
SB

Robert Rosario

M5 all the way, in black, total stealth.

gregjd

Early 996 911? Around £30K these days methinks.. Has 4 seats..sort of

Andy M3

Ok

1) 1999 T reg Porsche 996 Carrera 2 coupe [used]
2) New Nissan 350 Z [New]
3) Audi RS4 [used]
4) BMW E46 M3 [used]
5) Volvo S60R [New]
6) BMW M5 [used]
7) Boxster 3.2 S [used]

All the above are 300 bhp + except for the Nissan and the Boxter although they are close - all hold their money well all do 155 + and all look the bollox and the above is what i will be choosing from in the near future , i hope -

MarkCSC

Merc e class AMG 55?

Personally I'd go for the M5 or the 996

chris's scooby

I'd go for the M5, from your list.

That said i went out and got a WR1.

I thought of the 2 car thing but in reality i knew i'd only ever want to be in the fun car, so went for something that combined the two!

Dark Blue Mark

The only option I would considder is an R34 Skyline. Ok, is a "bit" in your face....

You need one.

MB

carl

Why does the Monaro have to have depreciated? They're only £28k new.

Dark Blue Mark

You also "need" a 2nd hand NSX

Not sure on a 6 year old price though...

MB

carl

Well my investigations reveal that whilst a '91 NSX can't be had for much less than £23k, a '96 can be had for about £25k.

All prices assume RHD and manual, of course

Dark Blue Mark

Im a long way off owning one then

He did say 30k budget though!

Its great spending other people's money...



MB

mynickers

I'd have an M5 if I could afford one, perfect 4x4 adult sports car, just watch those mpegs of Sabine throwing hers around the Nur. ring it's a serious performer, but it has all the luxuries and finish of an executive car.

I hope your company picks up the bills for servicing and tyres though

Jeff Wiltshire

Looking at your requirements it has to be the RS4....

Dark Blue Mark

Is the M5 4wd

MB

Dracoro

Certainly isn't. It'd RWD.

Aaquil

M5 or RS4 there's a small article in Top Gear magazine about the RS2, 4 and 6. Evo magazine did a buyers guide to M5 not that long ago and you can get the back copies.

RS4 is 4WD and M5 RWD. RS4 very quick and practical one of my choices if only I had the money and MTM tune them to mad power level they have one called 'Blue Thunder' with 600BHP.

By the way...you jammy git (joking).

All the best in your final choice.

the chosen one

Nissan 350Z
Mazda RX8 "Must have more than 2 seats"?
Nissan Skyline R33 or R34
Honda accord type r, accord tourer
Honda Integra (DC5) plus loads of mods
Honda NSX
Audi S4
Lexus IS200 sport
Porsche 911 or 996
Alfa Romeo GT

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

How about the following

Audi S4
Bmw M5
Mazda RX8
Audi S3
Audi A6 2.7 Turbo
Mercedes CLK NEW SHAPE
Golf R32

If I had to chose out of them lot id go for a second hand new shape Mercedes CLK 240 can be bought for around £27,000 and you have style, luxury and a bit of speed and a prestige badge.

Dapster

If you are really really focussed on driving pleasure, then the 996 or M5 would do it. For a good drive plus plenty of feel good factor, then get the RS4 or Merc E55 - they are not drivers cars like the other 2.

Don't underestimate the running costs of a 5 year old 996 - new tyres? That'll be a grand. New sports exhaust? Another 1200 squid. Disks and pads? 500 quid. Service from a dealer? 500 to 700 quid.

I've had 2 cars in the past - 3 series and a Caterham. My experience was ruined by a couple of ****e summers - I got about 2000 miles out of the Caterham in 2 years and it was a nightmare - such a wonderful car stuck in the garage while the rain came and went all summer. The few weekends I did use it, it was absolutely amazing but it would have been cheaper to hire one whenever I wanted it.

If I were you there is only one car - the 996. Hang the running costs - get a good one, get a warranty and experience the most iconic sports car of all time.

Scumbag

Cheers for the feedback, guys...
M5 is still the favourite, with S4/RS4, and AMG Merc (hadnt thought of that).
Thought about a 911 derivative, but that wouldnt be popular at work (too flash).
Hadnt thought of an R34...might have a look, but it might be a bit far from the norm (same as NSX).
Couldnt live with the lifetime of Volvo jokes for the S60
Boxster & 350Z got too few seats to qualify for my car allowance
Monaro I still think would lose me too much money over 3 years (same way as the B4 has)
S3 RX8and R32 too small
Alfa...20k miles per year not 2!! I've had alfas, and know plenty of others who have had nothing but grief...I'd pick a TVR for reliability over one !!!!!!

Thanks again...and feel free to 'virtually' spend as much of my money as you want !!

SB

lord vader

If it was me i would have the skyline R34 GTR as nothing else comes close.

M5=yawn
M3=yawn
audi=yawn
Jag=yawn

Holdens are diffarent and no one knows there vauxhall yet!.

Dark Blue Mark

Agreed. R34= Car ****.

How much is a 2nd hand DB9?

MB

imlach

Merc E55 estate (or saloon I suppose).
Practical, stealthy (more so than an M5!), 5.5 litre, comfy.